Meet Newlyweds Scott and Laura Bridge

During the week, Scott and Laura are both school teachers. He teaches Social Studies 10 and 11 at Chilliwack Senior Secondary; his second year on the job. “This is my calling and I love it,” he says, “especially dealing with troubled boys.” She is just getting her feet wet with a grade one-two split at Yarrow Elementary which at the moment is far too busy and all-consuming, and definitely a learning experience. “With both of us teaching,” says Laura, “it is ideal as we have the same hours, the same holidays and can relate to each other’s work.

On Sunday, you can see them sitting on the left side of the sanctuary with the other young people. Scott and Laura were married last August. They met through an old friend of Laura’s who was in Scott’s teaching practicum group. “You’ve got to meet this guy,” her friend said. “He is just your type.” They were introduced, engaged 10 months later and married 6 months after that.

Scott grew up going to Sardis Community Church, and was baptized in grade nine. “Pastor Arlee Johnson was a big factor in my conversion and early spiritual walk,” he says. Laura grew up in Langley and attended a Catholic church, but at sixteen she began to look for something more, seeking a deeper relationship with God. Friends from high school helped her in her search. She started attending Sardis when she and Scott were dating, and was overwhelmed by the generosity of the church family when they married. “That shower just blew me away,” Laura says. “I felt so supported and loved.”

Scott and Laura’s picture appeared on the front page of the Progress paper a few weeks ago when their apartment building on Topaz Street caught fire. “At the time I was furious,” says Laura. “Here we were standing outside the building with forty foot flames shooting up, wondering whether all our wedding presents would go up in smoke, and the paparazzi ‘s cameras kept clicking. Now that picture is a keepsake and we feel very blessed. Scott’s parents took us in immediately, and then we were asked to house sit for Thranes for two months.” For three days they had no idea whether their possessions existed, but when they were allowed to look through their rooms, there was not a trace of fire, water damage or even smoke ruin. “We had all those generous gifts from the church family and I thought, now they are gone. At first we could not afford insurance, and we had just decided that we would go ahead and get some…next week that is”

“The feeling of not having a home hits me,”says Laura, “but this experience was so good for us, in that we realized early in our marriage that we have each other, and possessions are secondary. We have seen each other deal with stress and come out with a deeper understanding. We count our blessings that no one died, but I’m not sure I could trust my neighbors and live in an apartment again. We’ve begun a search for a house.”

Laura grew up working in her parent’s nursery and Scott put himself through school working in one, so they share a love of getting their hands dirty and growing things. “We would love to farm some day and can’t wait to garden and landscape our own home,” he says. They also enjoy traveling, hiking, camping and the outdoors. “Family is very important to both of us, and we look forward to having children some day,” says Laura. She especially likes to read and Scott wants to get into vintage cars, particularly old Cadillac’s, long as a boat.

Scott and Laura lead a home group of young adults at Sardis and find that the conversation and community are rewarding and fulfilling. Says Laura, “Sometimes after an evening of discussing the Sermon on the Mount or Revelation, we just say ‘wow’, that was so good.” They are glad to make Sardis Community their church home.   Written by Helen Pauls